International Journal of Paleopathology最新文献

{"title":"Investigating wild bovines to assess pathological indicators of traction exploitation","authors":"Fabienne Pigière,&nbsp;Danielle Schreve","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.06.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.06.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This paper investigates the reliability of a set of pathologies in the lower limb bones for identifying the use of cattle for traction. The aim is to evaluate the impact of biological factors, in particular body weight, on the development of these pathologies.</div></div><div><h3>Material</h3><div>Autopodia from 37 Pleistocene (ie. pre-domestication) wild bovines, characterised by a heavy body weight and originating from areas of flat terrain, were studied.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Osteomorphological and osteometrical analyses of pathologies to distinguish draught and non-draught cattle were applied to the wild bovines.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A positive correlation is recorded between the body weight and several pathologies: palmar depressions on metapodials, lipping of the proximal articulations of metapodials, proximal and medial phalanges, proximal exostoses of the proximal phalanx, proximal and distal exostoses of the metacarpal and the medial phalanx. A more intensive pathological development is recorded on the forelimbs compared to the hindlimbs.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Heavy body weight causes several pathologies previously related to non-biological factors, usually attributed to traction.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>This research provides insights into the limitations and potential of existing published methods to identify draught cattle by documenting the influence of body weight on pathological changes.</div></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><div>The impact of body weight was investigated by studying particularly robust wild bovines but sex and other biological factors could not be determined in Pleistocene fossils.</div></div><div><h3>Suggestions for further research</h3><div>The study of the aetiology of pathologies will benefit from further research on bovine assemblages with different demographic compositions and from animals living in areas with steep terrain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48817,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Paleopathology","volume":"50 ","pages":"Pages 29-38"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144271577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A tale of two disciplines: Differential approaches to teaching and recording pathology in human osteology and zooarchaeology","authors":"Ellen Green","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.05.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.05.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To provide a snapshot of the current differences in pathological analysis between human osteology and zooarchaeology.</div></div><div><h3>Materials</h3><div>A survey was posted on Bluesky Social, Twitter (X) and emailed to both the British Association of Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology (BABAO) and the Zooarchaeology JISC list-serve mailing lists. Eighty one survey responses were analysed for this study.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The survey comprised 12 questions assessing the level of education, attitudes towards pathological recording, and approaches to recording specific lesions amongst practitioners. The answers to these questions were split into two groups, zooarchaeologists and human osteologists and then compared.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Human osteologists are more confident in their ability to both recognise and record pathology than zooarchaeologists. This aligns with their more frequent pathological analysis, as well as the greater amount of formal training on the subject in human osteology.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The greatest difference between the two disciplines is the amount of formal training, and this likely is one of the main causes of the lack of standardisation in zooarchaeology. While improvements are being made, it is necessary to further integrate pathological analysis into zooarchaeological courses.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>This study provides a starting point for further development of both disciplines by identifying the current state of affairs.</div></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><div>Survey data is always subjective, particularly when accessing long form answers. The sample size is small and it is also not ideal to judge lesion recording from photos, which can be difficult to access.</div></div><div><h3>Suggestions for further research</h3><div>A more comprehensive survey incorporating examples of taphonomic damage as well as a wider range of lesions would help to further illuminate the differences between the disciplines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48817,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Paleopathology","volume":"50 ","pages":"Pages 19-28"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144196150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Metastatic cancer in antiquity: Case study from 3rd-4th century Milan, Italy","authors":"Lucie Biehler-Gomez ,&nbsp;Carlotta Sala ,&nbsp;Mirko Mattia ,&nbsp;Marco Sannazaro ,&nbsp;Cristina Cattaneo","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.05.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.05.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To evaluate lesions noted on a 3rd-4th century individual and to contribute to our understanding of cancer in antiquity.</div></div><div><h3>Materials</h3><div>Skeletal remains of a single individual recovered from the \"Necropolis of the Cattolica\", Milan, Italy.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Macroscopic analysis, along with computed tomography and conventional radiography were employed to investigate lesions. Differential diagnosis was undertaken to assist with the diagnosis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The individual was a male aged 40–65 years with extensive skeletal fragmentation. Osteoblastic lesions with thick new bone deposits and spiculae were present on the scapulae, vertebrae, and ossa coxae. Radiological analysis revealed increased radiodensity with a cloud-like matrix.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Based on lesion distribution, morphology, and the individual’s biological profile, metastatic carcinoma is suggested to be the most plausible diagnosis.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>This case contributes to the growing body of evidence for cancer in Roman Italy and highlights the role of paleo-oncological studies in reconstructing health patterns in past populations.</div></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><div>The fragmented nature of the skeleton limited the extent of lesion analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Further research</h3><div>Expanding the dataset of ancient neoplastic cases will improve our understanding of cancer prevalence and evolution in past populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48817,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Paleopathology","volume":"50 ","pages":"Pages 12-18"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144185058","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioarchaeological evidence of violent deaths from medieval Prague","authors":"Anna Pankowská ,&nbsp;Petra Uhlík Spěváčková","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.05.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.05.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aims to investigate the relationship between patterns of violence-related trauma and social, chronological, and demographic variables using skeletal remains from historical Prague.</div></div><div><h3>Materials</h3><div>300 human skulls of adults from nine medieval cemeteries divided into three periods: Early Middle Ages (800–1200), High Middle Ages (1200–1500), and Modern Period (1500–1800).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>All bones were examined macroscopically for trauma (timing, location, type of trauma). We adapted the criteria outlined in the Istanbul Protocol for the identification of violence-related trauma. We used binary logistic regression to assess the trauma frequency<em>.</em></div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The analysis revealed no statistically significant relationship between patterns of violence-related trauma and the examined parameters. This lack of variation across socio-demographic predictors may reflect methodological limitations or cultural preference in choosing how to bury the deceased, but it could also suggest that violence impacted individuals across all groups indiscriminately.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The frequency of violent trauma on human bones in historical Prague is similar to other parts of medieval Europe. The absence of a difference in the prevalence of violence-related trauma between subgroups may indicate cultural and methodological bias.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>This research provides new insights into the bioarchaeology of violence in historical Prague and illuminates a hitherto understudied chapter of history.</div></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><div>The study is limited to the territory of the capital and focuses exclusively on cranial remains.</div></div><div><h3>Suggestions for further research</h3><div>In the future, comparative research could also be conducted comparing Prague burial sites with those found in significant urban centres in the Czech lands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48817,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Paleopathology","volume":"50 ","pages":"Pages 1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144147779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Presentism in paleopathology, through the lens of male breast cancer","authors":"Thomas J. Siek","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.04.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.04.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To highlight possible presentist biases within paleopathological differential diagnosis by calling into question the diagnostic value of the concept of clinical rarity in modern populations, with reference to male breast cancer as a case study.</div></div><div><h3>Materials</h3><div>Published paleopathological case reports of human skeletal remains estimated to be biologically male or possibly male with lesions attributed to metastatic carcinoma and multiple myeloma. Case reports from 1909 to 2017 were sourced from the Cancer Research in Ancient Bodies (CRAB) Database (n = 275), as well as a supplemental literature search for publications from 2018 to 2023.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Exclusion criteria were established to filter and identify paleopathological case reports published before 2024. All identified cases were assessed whether, when presented with metastatic lesions in the skeleton of a male, breast cancer was considered in the differential diagnosis or rejected, and the reasoning.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Eighty-five case reports were identified that included skeletal remains estimated as male with metastatic lesions. Of these, 13 case reports considered male breast cancer in the differential diagnosis. This diagnosis was reasoned against by all but one, with most citing modern clinical rarity with little to no further consideration of this disease.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Presentism bias and the concept of clinical rarity may be hindering paleo-oncological research, as potential diagnoses are not often fully considered.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>Paleopathological researchers are called on to re-examine their theoretical methodology and reflect on possible presentist biases in their investigation of diseases in the past.</div></div><div><h3>Suggestions for future research</h3><div>Further interrogation and consideration of male breast cancer in paleopathological differential diagnosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48817,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Paleopathology","volume":"49 ","pages":"Pages 128-132"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143854936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insights into the anatomical expressions of anencephaly in three infants from 17th to 19th- century Lisbon, Portugal","authors":"Marina Lourenço ,&nbsp;Francisco Curate ,&nbsp;Eugénia Cunha","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.04.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.04.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aims to analyse and compare the cranial morphological variations in three individuals, each exhibiting different severity levels of malformations.</div></div><div><h3>Materials</h3><div>Three nearly complete and well-preserved skeletons of infants from the São Domingos children's necropolis in Lisbon, Portugal, dating from the 17th to early 19th centuries.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Macroscopic and metric assessments were performed aimed at creating a detailed description of the skeletons.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The three infants exhibit an absence of the upper cranial vault, accompanied by several cranial bone alterations such as abnormal development and morphology of the occipital, sphenoid, temporal, and frontal bones. Additionally, two of the infants present maxillary and dental anomalies.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The three infants from the São Domingos necropolis provide crucial insights into the presence of anencephaly in an historical population, representing an exceptionally rare archaeological find. The distinct cranial abnormalities strongly support the diagnosis and highlight varying severity levels of the condition.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>These examples enhance the recognition of anencephaly in archaeological contexts and deepen the understanding of its varied bone expressions. Examining skeletal variations within the same condition also complements the broader palaeopathological discussion of rare diseases.</div></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><div>The lack of soft tissue preservation reduces a comprehensive assessment of anencephaly in skeletal remains. The archaeological context presents challenges such as fragmentation. Additionally, determining postnatal survival is difficult due to the subtle or absent skeletal indicators that might suggest survival beyond birth.</div></div><div><h3>Suggestions for further research</h3><div>Biomolecular genetics analysis could be a valuable approach for future research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48817,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Paleopathology","volume":"49 ","pages":"Pages 119-127"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143851648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Embracing complexity. Porous cranial lesions and their paleopathological significance in two population samples from Neolithic Northern Germany","authors":"Emmanuele Petiti ,&nbsp;Daria Moser ,&nbsp;Detlef Jantzen ,&nbsp;Florian Klimscha ,&nbsp;Katharina Fuchs","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.03.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.03.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To assess phenotypic variation of porous cranial lesions and their co-occurrence with infections of the upper respiratory apparatus and endocranial lesions, to infer disease burden in two different Neolithic socio-economic groups.</div></div><div><h3>Materials</h3><div>Human skulls of at least 111 individuals from a collective grave at Sorsum (farmers) and 30 individual biurials at Ostorf (aquatic foragers) from northern Germany (c. 3300–2900 BCE).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A new data recording protocol for scoring porous cranial lesion phenotypic variation and the assessment of inter- and intra-site frequencies and anatomical distribution. Statistical analysis of lesion frequencies and co-occurrences.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>High odds of porous cranial lesions and upper respiratory apparatus lesions co-occurrence, and of subperiosteal new bone formation of the vault (a porous cranial lesion phenotype) and endocranial lesions, are noted for both sites. Site-specific phenotypic profiles and distribution patterns differ. For Sorsum, juvenile individuals show greater porous cranial lesion frequencies and active lesions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Considering disease interplay is key for understanding porous cranial lesion phenotypic variation. Disease profiles can be associated with subsistence strategies. The results rule out dichotomic models (e.g. “civilization stress”) and support more nuanced reconstructions of the Neolithic social-economic transformations.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>This study emphasizes the need to adopt data recording protocols that include a wider range of porous cranial lesions to understand overlapping pathophysiological pathways.</div></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><div>Considerable preservation bias of the population samples. Inter-observer error is to be tested. Radiographic analyses are needed to corroborate the results.</div></div><div><h3>Suggestions for further research</h3><div>Further studies on larger assemblages from different geographical and chronological contexts are needed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48817,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Paleopathology","volume":"49 ","pages":"Pages 104-118"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143791548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A short and sickly life. Multi-indicator analysis of an infant from a late antique Italian burial site (Piano della Civita, Artena, 3rd-5th cent CE)","authors":"Viola Cecconi ,&nbsp;Alessia Nava ,&nbsp;Federico Lugli ,&nbsp;Alissa Mittnik ,&nbsp;Susanna Sawyer ,&nbsp;Jan Gadeyne ,&nbsp;Cécile Brouillard ,&nbsp;Ron Pinhasi ,&nbsp;David Reich ,&nbsp;Alessandra Sperduti","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.03.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.03.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To evaluate pathological lesions and related growth impairment in an infant from a late antiquity context in central Italy.</div></div><div><h3>Materials</h3><div>The individual labeled as 04.AR.60004 comes from a small burial plot in Piano della Civita di Artena, Italy, dated to the 3rd-5th centuries.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Macroscopic examination, metric analysis, dental histomorphometry, amelogenin sequencing, and aDNA analyses were employed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Individual 04.AR.60004 is an infant male with an estimated age-at-death of 2 months showing two metabolic stress events, one occurring before birth and one a few days before death. The well-preserved skeleton shows diffuse abnormal cortical porosity and subperiosteal new bone formation.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The type and distribution of the skeletal lesions suggest a diagnosis of infantile scurvy, probably associated with a general status of malnutrition. Dimensions of cranial and postcranial bones show a wide discrepancy between the skeletal age (38–40 fetal weeks) and the dental histological age (2 months).</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>Including enamel histology age-at-death estimation may expand our knowledge of the influence of severe pathological cases on growth.</div></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><div>Although scurvy remains the most obvious diagnosis, we cannot exclude other related micronutrient deficiencies which might have affected the individual.</div></div><div><h3>Suggestions for further research</h3><div>Including dental histometric and molecular sex estimation in infant pathological cases can help us to recognize impaired growth and enhance our understanding of sex-based susceptibility and potential biases in childcare within ancient communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48817,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Paleopathology","volume":"49 ","pages":"Pages 93-103"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143768639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Are endocranial granular impressions pathognomonic of tuberculous meningitis or a marker of tuberculous infection? An investigation on a medieval osteoarcheological assemblage from Italy","authors":"Maria Laura Genchi ,&nbsp;Valentina Giuffra ,&nbsp;Stefano Campana ,&nbsp;Giulia Riccomi","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.03.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.03.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>In recent paleopathological literature, granular impressions on the endocranial surface are considered pathognomonic of tuberculous meningitis. This study aims to verify the presence of granular impressions and assess their relationship with tuberculosis in an archeological human skeletal assemblage.</div></div><div><h3>Materials</h3><div>The study analyzed the endocranial surfaces of 212 skulls (38 non-adults and 174 adults) from the medieval site of Pieve di Pava, Italy.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Macroscopic and stereomicroscopic examination of the endocranial surface was conducted to evaluate the presence, location, and manifestation of granular impressions.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Granular impressions affected more than half of the individuals, with no statistical difference between males and females.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The high frequency of granular impressions challenges their interpretation as pathognomonic of tuberculous meningitis, a rare complication of tuberculosis affecting the central nervous system. Instead, these lesions should be considered indicative of bacteremia, when bacilli reach the central nervous system and form tubercles on the meninges. It cannot be established whether these tubercles were quiescent or had ruptured, leading to tuberculous meningitis.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>Based on the pathogenic life cycle of <em>M. tuberculosis,</em> as defined in clinical settings, it seems prudent to consider granular impressions as a marker of tuberculosis infection, rather than of active tuberculosis disease or tuberculous meningitis in paleopathology.</div></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><div>Research limitations include the smaller number of non-adults compared to adults.</div></div><div><h3>Suggestions for further research</h3><div>Screening of granular impressions in other large osteoarcheological assemblages could provide new and more reliable data on the spread of tuberculosis infection across different social contexts, geographical settings, and historical periods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48817,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Paleopathology","volume":"49 ","pages":"Pages 81-92"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143696675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From privies to disease: Parasites and pollen from 19th century Québec City","authors":"Aida R. Barbera ,&nbsp;Guillaume Pouliot ,&nbsp;Martin Lavoie ,&nbsp;Najat Bhiry ,&nbsp;Allison Bain ,&nbsp;Karine Taché","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.03.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2025.03.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This project combines the analysis of parasites and pollen remains from a wealthy 19th century household in Québec City, Canada to examine health as it intersects with ecological and cultural factors of disease transmission in changing urban environments.</div></div><div><h3>Materials</h3><div>Nineteen sediment samples from two privy structures from a 19th century wealthy household in Québec City, Canada.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The parasite analysis was conducted by examining the sediment through acid digestion, deflocculation and micro-sieving, and observed under a brightfield microscope. Pollen analysis followed the same method, but the sediments were further treated with acetolysis before microscopic observation.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The samples tested positive for the parasites <em>Trichuris trichiura</em>, <em>Ascaris lumbricoides</em> and capillariids. The pollen spectra showed a mixed diet based on species of cereals and other starchy foods, fruits, and green leaves, as well as condiments and potential medicinal ingredients (Myrtaceae).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The household members were infected with intestinal parasites spread through contact with fecal contaminated soils, suggesting deficient sanitation and hygiene. The pollen grains recovered evidence of a staple diet and medicinal remedies.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>This project highlights the benefits of using multiple lines of evidence to understand health in the past. Insight into how urbanization and poor sanitation can create environments conducive to parasite infection is gained and expands our knowledge of disease transmission and the synergies between environment and disease.</div></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><div>The analysis of privy structures offers an interpretation at the community level, masking individual idiosyncrasies.</div></div><div><h3>Suggestions for further research</h3><div>Similar studies on other contemporaneous sites across the city are needed to better comprehend the link between pathogen transmission, disease intensity and socioenvironmental factors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48817,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Paleopathology","volume":"49 ","pages":"Pages 69-80"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143687873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}